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Early-onset preeclampsia/gestational hypertension may be associated with a low incidence of cerebral palsy at 3 years old in singleton very low-birth-weight infants born at 28–31 weeks of gestation (EOPE-DQ study): a multi-center retrospective cohort study in 2013–2016

Hypertension Research volume 48, pages 88–101 (2025)Cite this article

A Comment to this article was published on 14 November 2024

Abstract

Our aim was to evaluate the effects of any types of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) on the development of either cerebral palsy (CP) or developmental delay (DD) at 3 years old in singleton very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants born at 24–31 weeks of gestation. This was a retrospective cohort study of VLBW infants born at 24–31 weeks in 2013–2016 in Japan, using a nationwide obstetrical database, and Neonatal Research Network Japan (NRNJ) Database, accompanied by a secondary survey of women complicated with HDP (EOPE-DQ study). In 529 candidates for long-term follow-up in 7 tertiary centers, the percentage undergoing follow-up for CP at 3 years old was 56.1%, and the percentage receiving follow-up for DD at 3 years old was 54.1%. The percentage of PE/SPE/GH was significantly lower in infants with CP than in controls (1/22 [4.5%] vs. 66/274 [24.1%], p = 0.034); especially, in infants born at 28–31 weeks, the percentage of PE/SPE/GH was significantly lower in infants with CP than in controls (0/13 [0%] vs. 44/151 [29.1%], p = 0.021). The percentage of PE/SPE/GH was not different between infants with DD and controls (9/49 [18.4%] vs. 54/237 [22.8%], p = 0.574). The percentage of composite risk factors (either bronchopulmonary dysplasia at a postmenstrual age of 36 weeks, intraventricular hemorrhage, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, or periventricular leukomalacia) was significantly higher in infants with DD than in controls. In conclusion, PE/SPE/GH around 30 weeks may be associated with a low incidence of CP.

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Acknowledgements

The authors did not receive any funding relevant to this article to disclose. However, this study was supported by JSSHP. The supporting society had no role in the design or conduct of the study. The authors would like to thank all participating institutions and patients involved in the study for their valuable contributions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke-shi, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Akihide Ohkuchi & Hirotada Suzuki

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan

    Asako Kanai

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NHO Nagasaki Medical Center, Nagasaki, Japan

    Masashi Fukuda

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan

    Yoshinori Takeda

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan

    Chiho Fuseya

  6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Hospital Organization, Saga Hospital, Saga, Japan

    Makoto Nomiyama

  7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan

    Takafumi Ushida

  8. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

    Kazushi Watanabe

  9. Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan

    Yumi Kono

  10. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan

    Katsuhiko Naruse

  11. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan

    Hiroyuki Seki

  12. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan

    Shigeru Saito

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Correspondence to Akihide Ohkuchi.

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Ohkuchi, A., Suzuki, H., Kanai, A. et al. Early-onset preeclampsia/gestational hypertension may be associated with a low incidence of cerebral palsy at 3 years old in singleton very low-birth-weight infants born at 28–31 weeks of gestation (EOPE-DQ study): a multi-center retrospective cohort study in 2013–2016. Hypertens Res 48, 88–101 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-024-01929-8

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